Bothrops moojeni
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Family: Viperidae
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Subfamily: Crotalinae
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Genus: Bothrops
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Species: moojeni
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Common Names
Brazilian Lancehead
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Local Names
Cabeca de Capanga , Caicaca , Caissaca , Jaracucu
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Region
South America
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Countries
Brazil, Paraguay
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Taxonomy and Biology
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Adult Length: 1.00 m
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General Shape
Medium to large in length, medium to heavy bodied pitviper. Can grow to a maximum of over 2.30 metres. Head is broad, flattened, lance shaped when viewed from above and distinct from narrow neck. Snout is not elevated. Eyes are medium in size with vertically elliptical pupils. Dorsal scales are keeled.
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Habitat
Cerrado, gallery forest and other relatively humid habitats often in close proximity to water.
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Habits
Terrestrial and mainly a nocturnal snake.
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Prey
Juveniles feed on a wide variety of small vertebrate prey. Adults feed mainly on mammals, birds, frogs and lizards.
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Venom
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Average Venom Qty
Female ( n=15 ) = 335 mg, Newborn = 63 mg. Furtado et al (1991) ( Ref : R000651 ).
Minas Gerais, Brazil : 118 mg ( dry weight ) ( range 55 to 317 ), Sanchez et al (1992) ( Ref : R000690 ).
Argentina : 248.0 ± 37 mg ( dry weight ) = 37.9 ± 5.73 mg venom / 100 g body weight, De Roodt et al (1988) ( Ref : R000870 ).
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General: Venom Neurotoxins
Probably not present
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General: Venom Myotoxins
Systemic myotoxins present
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General: Venom Procoagulants
Mixture of procoagulants
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General: Venom Anticoagulants
Probably not present
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General: Venom Haemorrhagins
Zinc metalloproteinase
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General: Venom Nephrotoxins
Possibly present
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General: Venom Cardiotoxins
Probably not present
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General: Venom Necrotoxins
Possibly present
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General: Venom Other
Unknown
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Clinical Effects
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General: Dangerousness
Severe envenoming possible, potentially lethal
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General: Rate of Envenoming: Unknown
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General: Untreated Lethality Rate: Unknown but may cause major envenoming
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General: Local Effects
Insufficient clinical reports to know, but possibly marked local effects; pain, severe swelling, bruising, blistering, necrosis
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General: Local Necrosis
Potentially may occur
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General: General Systemic Effects
Variable non-specific effects which may include headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, dizziness, collapse or convulsions
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General: Neurotoxic Paralysis
Does not occur, based on current clinical evidence
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General: Myotoxicity
Insufficient clinical reports to know
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General: Coagulopathy & Haemorrhages
Common, may be moderate to severe coagulopathy
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General: Renal Damage
No case reports for this species, but related species can cause renal failure secondary to coagulopathy.
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General: Cardiotoxicity
Does not occur, based on current clinical evidence
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General: Other
Shock secondary to fluid shifts due to local tissue injury is likely in severe cases
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First Aid
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Description: First aid for bites by Viperid snakes likely to cause significant local injury at the bite site (see listing in Comments section).
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Details
1. After ensuring the patient and onlookers have moved out of range of further strikes by the snake, the bitten person should be reassured and persuaded to lie down and remain still. Many will be terrified, fearing sudden death and, in this mood, they may behave irrationally or even hysterically. The basis for reassurance is the fact that many venomous bites do not result in envenoming, the relatively slow progression to severe envenoming (hours following elapid bites, days following viper bites) and the effectiveness of modern medical treatment. 2. The bite wound should not be tampered with in any way. Wiping it once with a damp cloth to remove surface venom is unlikely to do much harm (or good) but the wound must not be massaged. 3. All rings or other jewellery on the bitten limb, especially on fingers, should be removed, as they may act as tourniquets if oedema develops. 4. The bitten limb should be immobilised as effectively as possible using an extemporised splint or sling; if available, crepe bandaging of the splinted limb is an effective form of immobilisation. 5. If there is any impairment of vital functions, such as problems with respiration, airway, circulation, heart function, these must be supported as a priority. In particular, for bites causing flaccid paralysis, including respiratory paralysis, both airway and respiration may be impaired, requiring urgent and prolonged treatment, which may include the mouth to mask (mouth to mouth) technique of expired air transfer. Seek urgent medical attention. 6. Do not use Tourniquets, cut, suck or scarify the wound or apply chemicals or electric shock. 7. Avoid peroral intake, absolutely no alcohol. No sedatives outside hospital. If there will be considerable delay before reaching medical aid, measured in several hours to days, then give clear fluids by mouth to prevent dehydration. 8. If the offending snake has been killed it should be brought with the patient for identification (only relevant in areas where there are more than one naturally occurring venomous snake species), but be careful to avoid touching the head, as even a dead snake can envenom. No attempt should be made to pursue the snake into the undergrowth as this will risk further bites. 9. The snakebite victim should be transported as quickly and as passively as possible to the nearest place where they can be seen by a medically-trained person (health station, dispensary, clinic or hospital). The bitten limb must not be exercised as muscular contraction will promote systemic absorption of venom. If no motor vehicle or boat is available, the patient can be carried on a stretcher or hurdle, on the pillion or crossbar of a bicycle or on someone's back. 10. Most traditional, and many of the more recently fashionable, first aid measures are useless and potentially dangerous. These include local cauterization, incision, excision, amputation, suction by mouth, vacuum pump or syringe, combined incision and suction ("venom-ex" apparatus), injection or instillation of compounds such as potassium permanganate, phenol (carbolic soap) and trypsin, application of electric shocks or ice (cryotherapy), use of traditional herbal, folk and other remedies including the ingestion of emetic plant products and parts of the snake, multiple incisions, tattooing and so on.
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Treatment
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Treatment Summary
This treatment advice is general for most Bothrops species. Bites will vary from minor to life threatening. Therefore manage all bites as potentially major. Look for moderate to severe local effects, including pain, swelling, potential for fluid shifts and hypovolaemic shock, blistering, necrosis, abscess formation. Systemic effects may be minor or severe, possibly including coagulopathy and bleeding, kidney damage, even myolytic muscle damage. All cases with significant systemic effects require IV antivenom, as will most cases with significant local effects.
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Key Diagnostic Features
Local pain, swelling, blistering, necrosis + coagulopathy, bleeding
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General Approach to Management
All cases should be treated as urgent & potentially lethal. Rapid assessment & commencement of treatment including appropriate antivenom (if indicated & available) is mandatory. Admit all cases.
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Antivenom Therapy
Antivenom is the key treatment for systemic envenoming. Multiple doses may be required.
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1. Antivenom Code: SAmICP01
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Antivenom Name: Polyvalent Antivenom
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Manufacturer: Instituto Clodomiro Picado
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Phone: ++506-2511-7888
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Address: Contiguo a la plaza de deportes, Dulce Nombre de Coronado. San José Costa Rica
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Country: Costa Rica
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2. Antivenom Code: SAmIBB03
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Antivenom Name: Soro antibotropico-laquetico
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Manufacturer: Instituto Butantan
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Phone: +55-11-3726-7222
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Address: Av. Vital Brasil, 1500 Butanta 05503-900 Sao Paulo - SP
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Country: Brazil
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3. Antivenom Code: SAmIBB05
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Antivenom Name: Soro botropico
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Manufacturer: Instituto Butantan
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Phone: +55-11-3726-7222
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Address: Av. Vital Brasil, 1500 Butanta 05503-900 Sao Paulo - SP
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Country: Brazil
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4. Antivenom Code: SAmFED01
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Antivenom Name: Soro Antibotropico
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Manufacturer: Fundacao Ezequiel Dias - FUNED
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Phone: ++55-31-3371-9525
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Address: Rua Conde Pereira Carneiro, 80 - Gameleria Belo Horizonte, MG - CEP 30510-010
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Country: Brazil
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5. Antivenom Code: SAmFED02
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Antivenom Name: Soro Anti-botropico-crotalico
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Manufacturer: Fundacao Ezequiel Dias - FUNED
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Phone: ++55-31-3371-9525
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Address: Rua Conde Pereira Carneiro, 80 - Gameleria Belo Horizonte, MG - CEP 30510-010
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Country: Brazil
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6. Antivenom Code: SAmFED04
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Antivenom Name: Soro Antibotropico-laquetico
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Manufacturer: Fundacao Ezequiel Dias - FUNED
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Phone: ++55-31-3371-9525
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Address: Rua Conde Pereira Carneiro, 80 - Gameleria Belo Horizonte, MG - CEP 30510-010
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Country: Brazil
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7. Antivenom Code: SAmIBB07
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Antivenom Name: Soro antibotropico-crotalico
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Manufacturer: Instituto Butantan
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Phone: +55-11-3726-7222
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Address: Av. Vital Brasil, 1500 Butanta 05503-900 Sao Paulo - SP
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Country: Brazil
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8. Antivenom Code: SAmIBM06
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Antivenom Name: Antivipmyn
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Manufacturer: Instituto Bioclon
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Phone: ++56-65-41-11
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Address: Calzada de Tlalpan No. 4687 Toriello Guerra C.P. 14050 Mexico, D.F.,
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Country: Mexico
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Images
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Bothrops moojeni ( Brazilian Lancehead ) [ Original photo copyright © Dr Wolfgang Wuster ]
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